ほら吹き Blowing a Shell or Tell a Lie

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
ほら吹き hora fuki Blowing a shell (as musical instrument) -or- Tell a lie / exaggerate	ほら hora Shell ; Trumpet Shell 吹き fuki to blow	吹き飛ばす fuki tobasu - to blow off, (literally and metaphorically), brush away [A] 吹き替え fuki kae - dubbing (movies) [I]

Wilber's mind was bubbling with the beginnings of a mighty fine misunderstanding.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

趣味 shumi - hobby A common question at introductions
ですか desu ka - (question marker)
それはね sore wa ne - That is... You will often hear *introductions* such as this to what the speaker is saying. You can imagine this gives the listener a dramatic pause before being belted with something profound
ほらを吹く hora o fuku - blowing a shell -or- lying through his teeth HORA O FUKU basically means the same as HORA FUKI. We changed it to the basic verb form in order to use KOTO (see below)
こと koto - thing You could say [hora fuki desu.], Adding the koto may give it umph, but really there is no difference. To make this form, use the simple form of the verb (FUKU) plus koto

変身 metamorphosis, transformation

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
変身 hen shin metamorphosis, transformation	変 hen change 身 shin body	大変 tai hen - terrible, very, awful [B] 出身 shusshin - come from (your country/city) [I] 独身 doku shin - bachelor, single, not married [I]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ゴジラ gojira - Godzilla [The Japanese gojira comes from gorira (gorilla) and kujira (whale)]
前 mae - before
実は jitsu wa - actually, in reality...
可愛い kawaii - cute this is usually not written in kanji, but only in hiragana
トカゲ tokage - lizard usually words with difficult (or unknown) kanji tend to be written in katakana even if it is a native Japanese pronunciation - Here is the actual kanji [蜥蜴] (Dont worry, you wont be tested)
だった datta - was past simple of desu verb

天敵 Natural Enemy

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
天敵 ten teki natural enemy	天 ten heaven, nature 敵 teki enemy, opponent	天の川 ama no gawa - the Milky Way [note the pronunciation is ama] [I] 天下一 ten ka ichi - best thing on earth [I] 天国 ten goku - heaven [B] 強敵 kyou teki - strong enemy [I]

DISCLAIMER: What you are about to see may not present a fair coverage of the whole story. The present writer admits to have never actually tasted, but only to have smelled it and observed it from a distance.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ネズミ nezumi - mouse, mice (mouses) :)
の no - 's; possessive marker mouse's natural enemy...
猫 neko - cat, cats, catkind
私 watashi - I 私の watashi no - my
納豆 nattou - natto or the-more-delicious-sounding-name: fermented soybeans

天然ボケ Naturally Air Headed

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
天然ボケ ten nen boke Naturally Air Headed	天 ten heaven, nature 然 nen sort of thing, but, however ボケ boke touched in the head, out of it, spacey	天の川 ama no gawa - the Milky Way [note the pronunciation is ama] [A] 天国 ten goku - heaven [B] 自然 shi zen - nature [B] 全然 zen zen - not at all, entirely [B] 寝惚ける ne bokeru - be half asleep [I] 一目惚れ hito me bore - love at first sight [I]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

私 watashi - I, me
なので na node - node means because and is followed by an explanation.
あまり amari - not too much there is always a negative ending with amari - in this case nai
期待 ki tai - expectations
しないで shinaide - dont do ~

弓を引く Draw the bow; rise up against...

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
弓を引く yumi o hiku Draw the bow; rise up against...	弓 yumi bow を o [direct object marker] 引く hiku to pull, draw	弓道 kyuu dou - Japanese archery [I] 割引 wari biki - discount, 10% off, [B] 引越し hikkoshi - to move (to a different house or area) [B]

So you see how important it is to study kanji! - Yumi

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

由美 yumi - Yumi (girl\'s name) Just happens to have the same pronunciation as bow - of course I didnt exploit this fact...
さん san - added to names for politeness; similar to Miss (or Mr.)
ブルータス buru-tasu - Brutus (of et tu Brutus fame)
と to - and
シーザー shi-za- - Ceasar
に弓を引きました。 ni yumi o hikimashita - drew the bow against The NI shows where the action goes - in this case \'against\'

犬掻きで泳ぐ dog paddling, swim like a dog

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
犬掻きで泳ぐ inu kaki de oyogu dog paddling, swim like a dog	犬 inu dog 掻き kaki scratch, paddle, shovel 泳ぐ oyogu swim	盲導犬 mou dou ken - seeing eye dog [A] 泳ぐ oyogu - to swim [B] 水泳 sui ei - swimming (you can also say suimingu [I]

A bewildered fish returned to his kind with reports of a strange new terror...

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

あの ano - That (followed by a noun)
猫 neko - cat
猫のくせに neko no kuse ni - kuse ni means although or for a... (he) sure is... This is used often when the speaker sees something he thinks is ridiculous or shouldnt be. kodomo kuse ni tabako o suite imasu. (Although hes a child, he smokes.)
泳ぎます yogimasu - the masu form of 泳ぐ

猫ばば take something someone left as your own

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
猫ばば neko baba take something someone left as your own; pocket (to swip something regardless of whose it is)	猫 neko cat ばば baba poop [kanji: 糞 (with the character for rice [米] and different [異] - rice becomes something different)]	猫舌 neko jita - sensitive to hot food or drink; weak tongue (like a cat lapping too hot milk) [A] 子猫 ko neko - kitten [lit. child cat] [B]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

犬のポチ inu no pochi - Pochi the dog NOTE: in Japanese it is the dog Pochi. Pochi is a generic dog name like Rover is a Western dog name.
猫のタマ neko no tama - Tama the cat Tama is a common cat name
ごはん gohan - food it really means rice but is usually used to mean a meal

目に入れても痛くない So Cute!

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
目に入れても痛くない me ni iretemo itakunai Even if it pokes me in the eye, it wont hurt (it is VERY cute!)	目 me eye に ni particle showing direction 入れても irete mo even if entered - も implies even if 痛くない itakunai doesn't hurt - negative form of 痛い itai	一目ぼれ hito me bore - love at first sight [A] 注目 chuu moku - attention; object that draws attention; notice [B] 立入禁止 tachi iri kin shi - keep out! dont enter [I] 入口 iri guchi - entrance (of a store...) [B] 痛み止め itami dome - pain killer [I] 頭痛 zu tsuu - headache [B]

Harold has yet to learn the lesson of... Safety First.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ハロルド harorudo - Harold
メガネ megane - glasses (eye) You can write this in Hiragana, Katakana or Kanji - 眼鏡
を o - direct object particle
忘れてしまった wasurete shimatta - (unfortunately) forgot
ので node - therefore, because of that
猫だ neko da - cat DA is the simple form of DESU
と to - quotation particle TO after a quote is similar to saying Quote, Unquote in English
ハリネズミ hari nezumi - porcupine lit. needle mouse
に向かって ni mukatte - facing, directed to NI is often used as the direction marker for 向
言いました iimashita - said

瞬間 a Moment

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
瞬間 shun kan moment, an instant	瞬 shun wink, twinkle 間 kan interval, space	一時間 ichi ji kan - one hour (interval) [B] 居間 i ma - living room [I] 人間 nin gen - human beings [B] 瞬き matataki - wink (eye), twinkle (star) [A] 瞬く間に matataku ma ni - in a split second [A]

No longer do the particles cause Henry to sweat...

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

天才 ten sai - genius, very smart
ヘンリ君 henri kun - Henry [foreigner names are always written in katakana] KUN is usually used only with boys, but can b
世界一 se kai ichi - the most ---- in the world - Just put something after seikaiichi
難しい muzukashii - difficult
問題 mon dai - problem
解いた toita - solved (a problem) [from 解ける (to solve)]

雪男 Abominable Snowman, Bigfoot

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
雪男 yuki otokko Abominable Snowman, Bigfoot	雪 yuki snow 男 otoko man	大雪 oo yuki - heavy snow [B] 初雪 hatsu yuki - first snow of the season [B] 男らしい otoko rashii - manly, like a man [B] 男の子 otoko no ko - boy, man-child [B]

While sleeping... a child's prank

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

雪男 yuki otoko - abominable snowman lit snow man
ビューティーコンテスト byu-ti-kontesuto - beauty contest
なんなく nan naku - easily lit. without troubles - 難なく
入賞 nyuu shou - win a contest

馬が合わない Not get along

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
馬が合わない uma ga awanai Not get along	馬 uma horse 合わない awanai not match (neg of 合う)	竹馬 take uma - stilts, walking on stilts (bamboo horse) [I] 馬鹿 ba ka - fool, idiot [B] 子馬 ko uma - pony [B] 具合がいい gu ai ga ii - healthy, good condition [I] 試合 shi ai - match, game, contest [I] 知り合い shiri ai - an acquaintance; someone you know [B]

Will our hero, Wilber, return home in time...?

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ウィルバー wiruba- - Wilbur (Mr. Eds owner)
の no - possessive marker acts like the apostraphe S here
弟 otouto - younger brother older brother is ANI and brothers in general is KYOUDAI
ミスターエド misuta- edo - Mister Ed The famous Mister Ed
ので node - therefore this is a connector of phrases that shows cause and effect
有名な yuu mei na - famous the NA is used before nouns (BANGUMI)
番組 ban gumi - (TV) program
悲劇 hi geki - tragedy Romeo and Juliet is a HIGEKI
終わった owatta - finished, ended simple past

辻斬り Samurai who Kills Someone with a Sword on the Street

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
辻斬り tsujigiri Samurai who kills someone with a sword on the street	辻 tsuji crossing, street corner 斬 kiru murder, kill	辻褄 tsuji tsuma - consistency, consistent - usually written in hiragana only [A] 斬新 zan shin - novel, novelty [A]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

怪しい ayashii - suspicious, suspect, strange This can also be used to express doubt of something a friend has said.
男 otoko - man, male
下手人 ge shu nin - criminal, murderer
と思われた to omowareta - was thought to be passive voice
刀 katana - (Japanese) sword More on KATANA: Go here
代わりに kawari ni - instead of, in place of
花屋さん hana ya san - florist The san is added for cuteness and to indicate he worked at a florist shop (花屋).
だった datta - was simple past

かわず Frog

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
かわず kawazu (old word for かえる kaeru- Frog)	The kanji for Frog is 蛙. Both the old kawazu and the modern kaeru pronunciation use this kanji The sound of frogs in Japanese is gero or gwa To hear and learn about the FROG SONG click here	かえる kaeru - the modern, non-samurai frog [B] 蛙飛び kaeru tobi - the game of leap frog [I] 雨蛙 ama gaeru - tree frog [lit. rain frog] [I]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

Today's suggested usage is not from my imagination, but from Japan's most well-known poet, Basho furu ike - old pond
古池 furu ike - old pond
飛び込む tobi komu - to jump in, plunge
水の音 mizu no oto - sound of water

接吻 Kiss

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
接吻 seppun kiss (old word)	接 setsu come into contact with, receive 吻 fun	直接 choku setsu - direct, immediate [I] 面接 men setsu - interview [B]

Be a romantic samurai! Nowadays Japanese say kisu (kiss) or chuu to mean kiss

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ゴジラ gojira - Godzilla [The Japanese gojira comes from gorira (gorilla) and kujira (whale)]
しよう shiyou - decided to do something (kiss her)
キティちゃん kiti chan - Hello Kitty
に近づいた ni chikazuita - come close to, approach maybe you recognize chikai (near, close)
が ga - but connects two parts
逃げられた nigerareta - uses the passive of nigeru (to run away, escape) so she got away

果たし状 letter of challenge (to fight)

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
果たし状 hatashi jou letter of challenge (to fight)	果 ha (tashi) fruit, carry out, succeed 状 jou conditions, form	結果 kekka - result, consequences [B] 年賀状 nen ga jou - New Years card [I] 招待状 shou tai jou - invitation card [I]

A hard day's work and this is what I get to calm my nerves?!

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

何だ nan da - Whats this?! used when surprised - kore wa nan desu ka. is What is this?
近頃 chika goro - recently, as of late another useful recently is saikin
ピンク pinku - pink, the color
紙 kami - paper other kamis include: 髪 kami hair & 神 kami god / God
とか toka - such as... and ... used when listing 2 or more examples
レース re-su - lace because in Japanese R and L are transliterated to the same katakana characters, re-su can also mean race
刺繍 shi shuu - embroidery
けしからん keshikaran - impertinent, shameful, unpardonable, inexcusable, outrageous, disgraceful Yes keshikaran can imply all these meanings!

毒見役 Taste Tester

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
毒見役 doku mi yaku taster (of food or drink) for poison	毒 doku poison 見 mi to see 役 yaku an office, duty	気の毒 ki no doku - it's a pity, too bad [B] 食中毒 shoku chuu doku - food poisoning [I] 花見 hana mi - flower viewing [B] 悪役 aku yaku - the bad guy [I] 役に立つ yaku ni tatsu - useful [B]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

毒見 doku mi - This is the base form. Adding the yaku makes it someones job
して下さい shite kudasai - please do (something)
ね ne - a little added bonus to encourage the listener to obey. It is used to soften the request.

江戸っ子 Born and Raised in Tokyo

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
江戸っ子 edokko (Edos child - born and raised in Tokyo)	江戸 e do Edo an old name for Tokyo - The Edo period was from 1603-1868 戸 to door 子 ko child	江戸時代 e do ji dai - Edo Period [I] 椅子 i su - chair [B] 子供 ko domo - children [B]

Edo is the old name for Tokyo. If you can claim 3rd generation born in Tokyo (Edo) you can also claim the name 江戸子

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

俺 ore - I, me Used by males more on I, me click here
だ da - a casual form of desu to be

お世辞 flattery, kissing up

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
お世辞 o se ji flattery, kissing up	お o I believe this o is used to sarcastically give it an honorific feel 世 se world, generation 辞 ji word, resign (from a post)	ごますり goma suri - means the same as oseji ; kissing up... ; [lit. rubbing seseme] [I] 世界 se kai - the world [B] 辞書 ji sho - dictionary [B]

This is the hand motion which means kissing up.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

世界 se kai - The world
支配者 shi hai sha - ruler the 者 indicates a person
と言われると to iwareru to - said the first TO quotes the previous line and the second TO connects to the second part of the sentence
でも demo - even if... This is different from the DEMO meaning BUT.
うれしい ureshii - happy

一目惚 Love at first sight

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
一目惚 hito me bore Love at first sight	一目 hito me means glance [lit. one eye] 惚 (bore or actually hore before the phonetic change) has something to do with forgetfulness or not having it all there.	惚け boke - idiot, out of it, not too bright in the head [needless to say this isnt too polite] [I] 寝惚ける ne bo keru - to be half asleep [I] 時差ぼけ ji sa boke - jet lag [I cant be sure if this boke is the actual kanji in question. [I]

Talk about bad breath...

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ある日 aru hi - one day [used just like in English, usually in stories]
ゴジラ gojira - Godzilla [The Japanese gojira comes from gorira (gorilla) and kujira (whale)]
東京 toukyou - Tokyo
破壊中 ha kai chuu - in the midst of destruction [USEFUL: Use 中 chuu after things to show that they are not finished: example 食事中 shokuji chuu - while eating]
キティ kiti - Hello Kitty [In Japanese Hello Kitty is usually キティちゃん kiti-chan ]
しちゃった shichatta - the shi part is from suru; chatta is an ending that shows the finishing

太鼓腹 Taiko Belly

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
太鼓腹 tai ko bara Taiko (Japanese drums) Belly	太 tai big, thick, become fat 鼓 ko courage, drums, beat 腹 hara belly, stomach	太い futoi - fat, thick [B] 太鼓 tai ko - Taiko Japanese drums [B] 太陽 tai you - sun [B] 空腹 kuu fuku - hunger [A] 腹が立つ hara ga tatsu - angry [lit. stomach stands up] [I]

Many years of careful practice...

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

趣味 shumi - hobby A common question at introductions
ボブさん bobu san - (Mr.) Bob When a [Mr.] or [Mrs.] can be omitted in English, it probably cannot be omitted in Japanese. SAN can be used for both male and female.
の no - possessive
で - at, on, in, by The best way to get a feel for these particles is to read examples where they are used and notice how they are used.
演奏 en sou - performance
あまりにも amari ni mo - was so... that...
すごい sugoi - great! cool!
ので node - because, therefore Notice the order: the first part gives reason for what comes after NODE
ウィーン wi-n - Vienna Where else would Bob show off his extraordinary talent?
ソロ soro - solo
デビュー debyu- - debut
しました shimashita - past tense

宇宙人 alien, space man

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
宇宙人 u chuu jin alien, space man	宇宙 u chuu space, outer space 人 jin [also hito or nin] person, people	宇宙 u chuu - outer space. [B] 火星人 ka sei jin - matian, an alien from Mars [I]

hmmm...

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

私 watashi - I, me but when the は wa (hirganaga ha) follows, it can only be translated as 'I' because は wa is the main topic never a direct object
アメリカ人 amerika jin - American Just like 宇宙人 uchuu jin simply add a 人 jin to a country to get the countrys people
ですけど desu kedo - but saying this is true, but...
妹 imouto - younger sister older sister is 姉 ane
なのです na no desu - a little bit added to give the impression of conveying truth

弁解 Excuse

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
弁解 ben kai Excuse	弁 ben has to do with 'speech' 解 kai has to do with 'solving' or 'explanation'	弁護士 ben go shi - lawyer [I] 弁当 ben to - lunch box, boxed lunch [B] 解説 kai setsu - explanation, commentary [A] 理解 ri kai - understanding [I]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

余地 yochi - space, room
ない nai - not, does not exist the masu form is arimasen

強敵 Formidable Enemy

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
強敵 kyou teki Formidable Enemy	強 kyou strong 敵 teki enemy	勉強 ben kyou - study [B] 強い tsuyoi - strong [B] 素敵 su teki - nice, lovely [B]

Pooh, after extensive training.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

プーさん pu-san - Winnie the Pooh the full Japanese name is kuma no pu-san
忍術 nin jutsu - art of ninja
訓練 kun ren - training
のあとで no ato de - after this
ハチたち hachi tachi - hachi is bee tachi makes it plural just like watashi is I, ME and watashi tachi is WE
になった ni natta - became

愛の告白 Confession of Love

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
愛の告白 ai no koku haku Confession of Love	愛 ai love の no possessive 告 koku making public something 白 haku white	愛猫家 ai byou ka - a cat lover [A] 白 shiro - white [B]

It isnt easy being green...

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ゴジラ gojira - Godzilla
キティちゃん kitichan - Hello Kitty
するつもり suru tsumori - planned to do, intended to do 'tsumori' means 'intend to' or 'planning to'; Use after the plain form of a verb

未確認飛行物体 Unidentified Flying Object

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
未確認飛行物体 mi kaku nin hi kou buttai Unidentified Flying Object	確認 kaku nin to confirm 未確認 mi kaku nin unconfirmed 飛行 hi kou aviation 物体 buttai object	確認書 kaku nin sho - certificate [A] 未来 mi rai - future [B] UFO UFO - Meaning is same, but pronunciation is different [You Foe] [B]

Crashed!

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

鳥か tori ka - a bird? You can think of the か ka as a question mark, but here is is used to compare things to see what it is. Maybe it should be translated, Could it be a...
いや iya - no informal
ただ tada - just, only
スーパーマン su-pa-man - Superman
だ da - to be informal form of desu

理想的 ideal

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
理想的 ri sou teki ideal	理 ri a principle, reason 想 sou idea, thought 的 teki added for generalization; example: 革命 kaku mei (revolution) -> 革命的 kaku mei teki (revolutionary)	義理 gi ri - social obligation, something you have to do [A] 料理 ryou ri - food, cooking [B] 感想 kan sou - impressions, thoughts [I] 具体的 gu tai teki - concretely (as opposed to abstract) [A]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

やっと yatto - at last
プーさん pu-san - Winnie the Pooh His full name is 熊のプーさん kuma no pu-san
子分たち ko bun tachi - henchman, follower the たち tachi makes it plural [like わたし watashi (I) -> わたしたち watshi tachi (we)]]
隠れ場 kakure ba - hiding place
見つけた mitsuketa - found

真実 the Truth

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
真実 shin jitsu truth	真 shin real, truth 実 jitsu fruit, substance, truth	写真 sha shin - photograph [B] 実は jitsu wa - actually, really [B] 真っ直ぐ massugu - forward, straight [B] 木の実 ki no mi - nut, berry, fruit [B]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ばれる bareru - exposed, reveal, leak out (a secret)
ばれちゃった barechatta - (unfortunately) truth was revealed The chatta / shimatta form is often used to show regret or the fact that the results were unintended.
犬 inu - dog
ポチ pochi - Pochi a common name for dogs like fido
猫好き neko zuki - lover of cats [猫 neko (cat) + 好き suki (to like - becomes Zuki when attached to nouns)] another zuki is sakezuki [lover of drinking]
だった datta - was

口を滑らせる Slip of the Tongue (mouth)

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
口を滑らせる kuchi o suberaseru slip of the tongue (mouth)	口 kuchi mouth 滑 sube(raseru) slip	入り口 iri guchi - entrance [B] 人口 jin kou - population [I] 滑り台 suberi dai - playground slide [I]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

つい tsui - unintentionally, by mistake
口を滑らせて kuchi o suberasete - The -te form of todays word You can think of this as an and -[My mouth slipped and your face looks like a wild boar. came out.]
あなたの anata no - your just anata alone means you - adding the no makes it possessive
顔 kao - face
いのしし inoshishi - wild boar
～みたい ~mitai - seems like, looks like put after a noun - nihon mitai (looks like Japan) - kuma mitai (looks like a bear)
と言っちゃった to icchatta - I unfortunately said... ～ちゃった ~chatta means something is completed, but usually shows a bit of remorse over what has occurred. It is used in casual speech and its more formal counterpart is しまった shimatta acts and means the same.

断っておくけど Let me Hasten to Mention...

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
断っておくけど kotowatte oku kedo let me hasten to mention...	断って kotowatte give notice, warn someone [-te form of kotowaru] おく oku place, put [after the -te form means to do that immediately] けど kedo but...	横断 ou dan - crossing (a road...) [I] 優柔不断 yuu juu fu dan - indecisiveness, wishy washy [A] 断食 dan jiki - fasting [I]

Superman never had it so good...

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

酔っ払い yopparai - drunk
では de wa - used to mean as for being in the state of
ありまヘン arimahen - not
ワシ washi - I used by older men
スーパーマン su-pa-man - Superman
だ da - am casual form of desu

いつのまにか Before you Know it

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
いつのまにか itsu no ma ni ka before you know it	いつ itsu when [kanji is not used but... - 何時] 間 ma time	何時 nan ji - What time is it? (same kanji as itsu) [B] 一時間 ichi ji kan - one hour [B]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ゆすけくん yusuke kun - Yusuke a common boy's name; kun name title used with boys
英語 eigo - the English language
勉強 ben kyou - study
しようと思った shou to omotta - thought to do..., intended to do...
眠ってしまった nemutte shimatta - (unfortunately) fell asleep

おまけに To make matters worse...

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
おまけに omake ni To make matters worse...	According to my dictionary the kanji would be: 御 o added before something to make it honorific (here used sarcastically of course!) 負 make(ru) to lose, defeat, to bear (a burden)	御菓子 o ka shi - candy (also always written in hiragana) [B] 御願いします o negai shimasu - please do this... (I have) a favor to ask [B] 御客様 o kyaku sama - customer [B] 勝負 shou bu - match, game, contest [I]

Wilber awoke to...

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

しわ shiwa - wrinkle
だ da - simple past (of desu)
初 hatsu - the first...
白髪 shiraga - gray / white hair
発見 hakken - discover, discovery
しまいました shimaimashita - past tense of shimau (meaning 'to finish') shimau also is used to show regret at what has occurred (and finished).

ほっぺが落ちる Delicious

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
ほっぺが落ちる hoppe ga ochiru very oishii (its so delicious, my cheek will fall)	ほっぺ hoppe cheek (face part) 落ちる ochiru fall, drop	見落とし mi otoshi - overlook [I] 猿も木から落ちる saru mo ki kara ochiru - even monkeys fall from trees (proverb) [I] ほっぺ hoppe - cheek [B]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

日本 ni hon - Japan
に住んでいる ni sundeiru - Is living in...
外人 gai jin - foreigner (more polite is 外国人 gai koku jin)
クレイ kurei - Clay (my name)
久し振り hisashi buri - its been a long time
蛸 tako - octopus (the play with words here is that the sound tako can mean octopus or Taco)
じゃない ja nai - not
メキシコ料理 mekishiko ryou ri - Mexican food
タコス takosu - taco
食べて tabete - eat and...
そうだった sou datta - it seemed as though...

万年床 Unmade Bedding

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
万年床 man nen doko unmade bedding	万 man 10,000 年 nen year(s) 床 doko bed, floor, tatami	百万 hyaku man - 1,000,000 - a million [B] 万歳 ban zai - hurrah! banzai! hooray! [usually said 3 times in a row] [B] 来年 rai nen - next year [B] 半年 han toshi - half a year [I] 病床 byou shou - sick bed [A] 床屋 toko ya - barber shop [A]

Fred keeps an orderly house.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

１０年間 juu nen kan - 10 year long the KAN makes it 10 years long instead of just the tenth year.
敷きっぱなし shikippanashi - left spread out SHIKU means spread out, laid out; PANASHI comes from HANASU and means left loose
の no - the possessive This connects SHIKIPPANASHI with MANNENDOKO
僕の boku no - my I with the possessive particle
自慢 ji man - pride
だ da - the simple form of DESU

世界一 World's best

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
世界一 se kai ichi Worlds best	世 se world, generation 界 kai world 一 ichi one, first	この世 kono yo - this world [I] 世界一周 se kai isshuu - trip around the world [A] 二十一世紀 ni juu issei ki - 21st Century [B] 一月 ichi gatsu - January [B] 一目惚れ hito me bore - love at first sight [I]

A well-known secret: Clark Kent without his glasses is Superman. A little known secret: Superman without his glasses is blind.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

教養 kyou you - culture, education, refinement
好きな zuki na - to like It is really suki but when certain sounds are combined the first sounds changes to a harder sound s ->z; the -na is used to stick suki with a noun (Superman)
スーパーマン su-pa-man - Superman
間違って machigatte - mistakenly
クリプトナイト kuriputonaito - Kryptonite
博物館 hakubutsukan - museum
入っちゃった haicchatta - entered the -chatta indicates somewhat regret over having done the action

内気 Shy, Bashfulness, Timid

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
内気 uchi ki shy, bashfulness, timid	内 uchi inside 気 ki spirit, energy, power	内緒 nai sho - secret [I] 案内 an nai - guidance, information [B] 気をつけて ki o tsukete - take care, be careful [B] 電気 den ki - electricity [B] 元気 gen ki - healthy, feeling well, strong [B]

No one could sing UFO like ole Wilbert.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

カラオケ karaoke - karaoke KARA comes from the Japanese word meaning (empty) or (without) and OKE comes from the English word (Orchestra)
歌った utatta - sang This is placed before Wilbert, so it modifies Wilbert
ウィルバート wiruba-to - Wilbert Foreigners names are always written in katakana
いつもの itsumo no - the usual..., as always いつも itsumo means (always) but here it is used before a person to mean his (usual behavior).
彼 kare - he
ピンクレディー pinku redi- - Pink Lady This was a disco singing/dancing duo from the 70s. Their most famous song was UFO (pronounced like the English words YOU - FOE)
ファン fan - fan This is from the English meaning someone who likes a sport, star or...
だったのだ datta no da - was - past simple of DESU I translate this (Turns out he was) because the last NO DA convey a sense of explanation.

冷静 Calm, Cool

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
冷静 rei sei calm, cool	冷 rei cold 静 sei quiet, still	冷たい tsumetai - cold (to the touch), chilly [B] 冷酷 rei koku - cruel, cold-hearted [A] 冷蔵庫 rei zou ko - refrigerator [I] 静か shizuka - quiet [B] 静電気 sei den ki - static electricity [A]

Detective Wilbert decisively fingers the suspect

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

刑事 kei ji - police detective
ウィルバート wiruba-to - Wilbert foreigner names are always written in katakana
冷静に rei sei ni - calmly adding a ni makes it an adverb: CALM -> CALMLY
犯人 han nin - suspect, criminal, offender, bad guy
指差した yubi sashita - pointed out, point at
あなた anata - you more pronouns
い、いえ・・・ i, ie... - n... no usually it would be いいえ iie - another way of saying no is いや iya, which when said fast sounds like the English Yeah! which is the direct opposite of the intended meaning!
実は jitsu wa - actually, in truth, as a matter of fact
私 watashi - me, I more pronouns
ごめん gomen - sorry, pardon me

夢遊病 Sleepwalking

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
夢遊病 mu yuu byou Sleepwalking	夢 mu dream 遊 yuu play 病 byou sickness	夢中 mu chuu - in a daze, in the clouds [I] 遊園地 yuu en chi - amusement park [I] 病気 byou ki - sick, sickness [B]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

僕 boku - I used by males
ために tame ni - for that reason, because of, to that goal
ベッド beddo - katakana for bed
シートベルト shittoberuto - katakana for seat belt
付けました tsukemashita - set, attached, put

女の直感 Woman's Intuition

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
女の直感 onna no chokkan womans intuition	女 onna woman の no possessive marker 直 choku straight, honesty, to fix 感 kan to feel, emotion	彼女 kanojo - she, girlfriend [B] 雪女 yuki onna - snow woman from a Japanese traditional story [I] 正直 shou jiki - honesty, integrity [I] やり直す yari naosu - to redo, do again [I] 感じ kan ji - feeling, sense [not Chinese characters!] [I] 感謝 kan sha - thanks, gratitude [I]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

で de - by; using (womans intuition)
キティちゃん kiti chan - Hello Kitty
ゴジラ gojira - Godzilla
の no - possessive (Godzillas hitting on ...) Godzillas hitting on ...)
ナンパ nanpa - make a pass, hit on (usually from a man to a woman, however in the case of Hello Kitty wanting to hit on Godzilla usually GYAKU NAMPA would be used (reverse pass).
巧みに takumi ni - cleverly just kakumi means skill, clever but with the ni it becomes an adverb modifying kawashita.
かわした kawashita - to dodge, to avoid (thwart)

安心感 Sense of Security

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
安心感 an shin kan Sense of Security	安 an relax, cheap, quiet 心 shin heart 感 kan feeling, sense, to feel	不安` fu an - uneasiness [I] 安い yasui - cheap, inexpensive [B] 心 kokoro - heart [B] 熱心 nesshin - zeal, enthusiastic [I] 直感 chokkan - intuition [A] 感じる kanjiru - to feel, to sense [I]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

強盗 gou tou - robbery
あってる atteru - occured atteru - means to meet but is used to say that a bad experience has occured
最中に sai chuu ni - in the very midst of, during
ハワード hawa-do - Howard
現れた arawareta - appeared
ので node - therefore
皆 mina - everyone
広がった hirogatta - spread widely

寝癖 "Morning Hair" that is, hair that sticks up due to sleeping

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
寝癖 ne guse morning hair that is, hair that sticks up due to sleeping	寝 ne sleep 癖 kuse habit, fault [In our example there is a phonetic change to guse]	口癖 kuchi guse - favorite saying, what one says often [A] 昼寝 hiru ne - (noon) nap [B] 朝寝坊 asa ne bou - oversleep in morning; late riser [I]

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

しまった shimatta - darn!
また mata - again

寝言 Talking in one's Sleep

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner | I = Intermediate | A = Advanced
寝言 ne goto Talking in one's Sleep	寝 ne sleep 言 koto (goto) speak, say	昼寝 hiru ne - nap, siesta [B] 寝坊 ne bou - oversleep, sleep in late [I] 独り言 hitori goto - monologue, speaking to oneself [A] 方言 hou gen - dialect (of a language) [I] 言語 gen go - language [B]

Confessions from the heart...

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE: